Machine for the manufacture of fluted columns



May 21, 1929.

J, H. SCHLAFLY MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FLUTED COLUMNS Filgd Feb. 29', 1928 v 3 sheetsrsheet =1 A INVENTOR v Jul/us 6 Srmnux New A TTORNEYS.

May 21, 1929- J. H. SCHLAFLY MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FLUTED COLUMNS :s Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 29, 1928 I N VEN TOR. JZ/uus A. SCI/FLY.

A TTORNEYS,

y 21, 1929- J. H. SCHLAFLY 1,714',10s

MACHINE FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF FLUTED COLUMNS Filed Feb. 29, 1928 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. Ju m/s Sela/95L Patented May 21, 1929. V

JULIUS a. soIrLArLY, or cement, oz-no.

MACHINE ran THE MANUFACTURE OF .FLUTED commits.

Application filed February 29, 1928. Serial No. 257,933.

This invention relates to the manufacture ofv fluted steel columns. These columns are made from a hollow steel 'ipe section, tapering throughout its lengt and provided with ornamental flutes or corrugations. .The object of the invention is to improve upon machinery for rolling the flutes in the column, the machine as shown herein being an improvement upon prior machines for this purpose in simplicity of construction and efficiency.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent to those skilled in this art and will appear as the description of the machine is. given. It will be understood'that exact conformity with the detailed'constru'ction as shown and described is not necessary, changes and modifications being possible without departing from the features of novelty and invention as set forth in the claims or within the scope of the'invention as permitted by the prior art. y

In the drawings, in which the preferred form of the invention is shown, together with certain modifications,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, partly broken away, in its best form as known to me at the present time, showing Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a view of the preliminary forming rolls;

Fig. 6 is a similar view of the finishing rolls; 7 I

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Fig. 1, showing a modification of the mandrel elevating means;

8 is a modification of the forming roll carrier; and

Fig. 9 is a still further modification.

The machine is designed for the purpose of rolling flutes in a tapered or conical tal pipe, which is placed in unfiuted :tien over a horizontal mandrel 2 arranged axially of the machine. The mandrel is f'ormed with an elongated end portion 3 over which the unrolled tube is placed and with ataperin'g portion 4: upon whi'ch the column is rolled, this portion being provided with the requisite number of veins or ribs 5, the outer edges of which are reduced sons to secure a sharp edge at each high point on the finished pipe. The spacesbe- PATENT QF-FicE. a 1

tween the ribs 5 permit the metal of the pi e'to be formed as shown.

The base 6 of the mandrel is made cylindrical and is rotatably supported in a'trunnion 7, collars 8 at either side of'the trunnion fixing the mandrel in position. The

trunnion is supported in bearings 9 in a base 10. At the rear of the trunnion on the shaft is secured a worm gear 12 which is engaged by a worm 13 by means of which the mandrel may be rotated, if such action is necessary in the operation of the machine. The mandrel is tilted in the bearings 9 by means of a large hand-operated set-screw 16 supported in a bracket 17 at the rear of the base 10 and bearing downwardly upon the rear end of the mandrel. The mandrel is supported at its forward end upon a concave pulley 18 mounted in a bracket 19 at the forward end of the machine.

To raise and lower the forward endof the mandrel by power, thedevice shown in Fig. 7 maybe used. 111 this form the bracket 17 is provided with a pin 20 which slides in the bracket, being formed atits upper end with screw-threads engaging a nut 21 rotated by a bevel gear 22 which is operated by a bevel pinion 23 on'the shaft of a motor 24.

Arranged about the mandrel as an axis a are a plurality of spaced circular frames. .25, to which are removably and replaceably attached a plurality of blocks 26, and to'th'e blocks are secured a plurality of equally spaced'parallel rails '28 which extend from the front end'of the mandrel to a point at the rear of the working surface thereof and completely surround the mandrel in the I 100 blocks 26 enable the machine to be adjusted for different sizes of mandrels and for vary ing tapers, as will be understood from the subsequent description.

The formation of each of the rails may be seen in Fig. 1. Each rail has a horizontal portion or cam track 32 at the forward end and another horizontal portion or cam track 33 at the rear end. Immediately in the rear of the portion 32 is an arched stretch 34; which is followed by an inwardly inclined or tapered stretch 35 which gradually approaches the mandrel and is substan ranged to slide along the rails to guide and the axis of the form.

steady the carriage in its movement along To the carriage, at opposite sides of the mandrel, are attached the ends of two parallel chains 4% which are supported upon a plurality of sprockets/l to move in substantially rectangular paths, the upper runs of which are parallel to and located in the san e plane as the mandrel. Sprockets are located at the bed plate and. are mounted upon a. shaft d8, arranged to be driven in either direction through clutch l9 operated by pulleys 5O driven by open. and crosset bolts 51.

Upon the carnage are located two sets of rollers with their supporting lovers, one set comprising the preliminary forming rollers and the second set the iinishin rollers. The preliminary forming rollers are designated and are in the form as shown in Fig. 5, although other forms of rollers may be substituted, the shape of the flutes determining the shape of the rollers. The rollers completely surround the mandrel as shown. Each roller is mounted in a fork which is socured to the inner end of a radially posi Over the portions or stretches 32 rollers 61 which ride upon the flanges 29. It will be observed that there are eight of these levers 1n the set or gangand that eight of the rails are providedfor the operation of these. levers.

The finishing rollers are designated by the numeral 62 and are also arranged 111 a set of eight, which are placed to overlap or instaggered relation to the rollers so that all of the flutes are properly and evenly rolled. These rollers 62 are carried on levers 63 which are pivoted on brackets 6t extending rearwardly of the carriage, the mounting of the rollers being the same as the rollers 55. The levers 63 engage the alternate rails 28 in the same manner as the levers 58, but trail those levers.

It is believed that the operation of the machine will be understood from the description which has been given. The carriage is moved forwardly to the dotted line position shown at the right in Fig. 1. In this position the rollers upon the two sets of levers are beneath the supplementary rail 36 and the rollers are moved outwardly in position to clear the work. The forward end of the mandrel is raised by downward pressure upon its rear end, so that it is elevated above the roller 18. The tapered, unfluted column is then placed over the mandrel and onto the working surface thereof, defined by the ribs 5. The carriage is now moved by the chains 44 to the left of Fig. 1 and the'rollers engage the work, the second set trailing and finishing the operation started by the first set. As the rollers travel over the work, the pressure is applied thereto by the rails through the lovers, and where the columns are of tapered for mation, the rails are correspomlingly eonverged to maintain the desired flirting pressure. It will also be apparent that by ad justing the position of the rails, differently tapered columns can be accommodated and rolledin the machine.

As the carriage approaches the end of the work, the rollers pass over the end of the work to the dotted line position of Fig. l. The weight of the levers may be so proportioned that they will maintain the position. shown in that portion of the view. The mandrel may then be elevated and the finished column withdrawn. Suitable stripping mechanism may be incorporated with the mandrel, such mechanism not being shown herein. If it is desired to repeat the operation, the mandrel may be rotated between operations of the carriage.

In order to facilitate toe withdrmval of the carriage and its forming rollers, the

'modification may he adopted as shown in Fig. 8, in which a lever carries at its lower end a hinged arm which contacts at one side with a stop 71. In moving toward the left in the fluting operation, the arm -70 re mains in vertical position against the stop. In moving toward the right at'the end of the fluting operation, the arm may swing outwardly, clearing the work. I

To reduce the number of levers and rails, an arrangement may be devised by which a single pivoted arm supports rollers on.oppo site sides of the mandrel. A device for this purpose is shown in Fig. 9, ,in which the carriage is formed with brackets 76, in the outer end of each of which is pivoted a lever 77, one side of which carries. the roller 78 which rides over the rail'28. The outer ends of the lever 77 are slotted and are connected by pins to vertically moving arms 79 and 80, the former carrying rollers to operate on the side of the form adjacent the rail 28-and the latter being ofiset midway of its length and carrying rollers to operate on the opposite side of the form. In this manner the parts of the machine can be reduced in number. If desired, the arms 80 can also be brought to a position beneath the arms 79 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 9, thus equalizing the pressure upon opposite sides of the mandrel. In this modification, the roller 78 fits the rail 28 more closely than in'the preferred form so that the pressure in opposite directions will be properly applied. a I

It will have been noted that a simple and efficient column rolling machine has been developed, and it will be understood that modifications and variations may be made within the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims. The movement of the tive only.

1V hat is' claimed is:

1; In a machine for fluting tapering metal columns, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally'of the mandrel, a rail extending in the general direction of the mandrel, a lever pivoted on the carriage, a fluting element carried upon the lever, and a roller carried. on the lever'and moving over the rail, the pressure upon the element being applied by the rail through the direct contact of the pivoted lever with the rail.

2. In a machine for fluting tapered metal carriage'with respect to the mandrel is relacolun'1ns,'a tapering mandrel, a carriage end of the lever, and a roller on the opposite end of the lever bearing "on the. rail, the

pressure on the fluting roller through the lever being applied by the contact of. the roller on the rail. 7 u

' 4. In'a .flutingmachine, a mandrel, a car'- riage movable longitudinally of the man;

drel, a rail extending longitudinally of the mandrel, a pivoted lever on the carriage,

and a fluting element on one'end ofthe lever, the opposite end of the lever bearing directly against the rail to apply pressure to the fluting elementthrough the lever.

5. In a fluting machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable relatively to the-mandrel, a pivoted lever on the carriage, a fluting element on one end of the lever, and means to apply pressure to the fluting element through the lever during the relative movement of the travel OVGItllG mandrel, said means comprising guide rollers on the opposite ends of said levers and rails over which said guide rollers move. v 7. In a fluting machine, a mandrel, acarriage movablelongitudinally of the ma n-- drel, a group offiuting rollers arranged on the carriage about the mandrel, said rollers being supported on levers and completely enclosing the mandrel, means to move the carriage longitudinally of the mandrel, and means to apply pressure to the rollers through the levers as theytravel along the mandrel, said rollers operating to 'flute the entire surface of the work'at a single operation.

8. In a fluting machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a group of fluting rollers arranged aboutthe mandrel and completely enclosing the same, a second group of rollers also arranged about the mandrel and enclosing the same, and means to move the said groups simultaneously over the surface of the mandrel. I

9. In a flutingma chine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a group of fluting rollers arranged about the mandrel andcompletely enclosing the same, a second group of rollers also arranged about the mandrel and enclosing the same and spaced from the first group, and means to move the said groups simultaneously over the surfacebf the mandrel.

10. In a fluting machine, a mandrel, a car riage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a group'of fluting rollers arranged of the other group.

(ill

about the mandrel and completely enclosing the same, a second group of rollers also arranged about the mandrel and enclosing the same and spaced from the first group and arranged in staggered relation thereto, and means to move the said groups simultaneously over the surface of the mandrel.

11. In a fiuting machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a group of levers pivotally mounted on the :arriage and arranged radially of the mandrel, a secondary groupof levers also pivotally mounted on the carriage and arranged radially of the mandrel, tinting rollers carried on the inner ends of said levers, rails arranged longitudinally of the man drel, and rollers on the outer ends of the levers; movable over the rails.

12. In a fiuting machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a group of levers pivotally mounted on the carriage and arranged radially of the mandrel, a secondary group of levers also pivotally mounted on the carriage and arranged radially of the mandrel, fluting rollers carried on the inner ends of said levers, rails arranged longitudinally of the mandrel, and rollers on the outer ends of the levers movable over the rails, the fluting rollers and lovers of. one group being staggered with respect to the fluting rollers and levers 13. In a tinting machine, a tapering mandrel, a circular carriage movable over the a mandrel, a set of leversof the first class pivoted on the carriage and radially ar ranged With respect thereto, a plurality of rails equal to the number of levers, said rails converging toward the larger end of the mandrel, fluting rollers on the inner ends of said levers, and pressure rollers on the outer ends of said levers adapted to engage the rails to apply pressure to the fluting rollers through the lovers.

1%. In a fluting machine, a tapering mandrel, a circular carriage movable over the mandrel, a set of levers of the first class pivoted on the carriage and radially arranged with respect thereto, a plurality of rails equal to the number of levers, said rails converging toward the larger end of the mandrel, tinting rollers on the inner ends of said levers, pressure rollers on the outer ends of said levers adapted to engage the rails to apply pressure to the fluting rollers through the levers, and a secondary set of levers, fluting rollers and pressure rollers on the carriage and spaced from the firstnained set.

15. In a fluting machine, a tapering mandrel, a circular carriage movable over the mandrel, a set of lovers of the first class pivoted on the carriage and radially arranged With respect thereto, a plurahtyof rails equal to the number of levers, said rails converging tovvardthe larger end of the mandrel, fluting rollers on the inner ends of said levers,,pressure rollers on the outer ends of said levers adapted to engage the rails to apply pressure to the fiuting rollers, through the levers, and a secondary set of levers, fluting rollers and pressure rollers on the carriage and spaced from the first-named set, the setsbeing arranged in staggered relation; I

16. In a tinting machine, a mandrel pivotally mounted at oneend, a support for the free end of the mandrel., mea'ns to rock the mandrel to elevate the freeend thereof above the support, and fluting rollers movable longitudinally of the mandrel.

17. In a tinting machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the man drel, a set of, forming rollers and a set of finishing rollers supported on the carriage, the said rollers operating simultaneously during movementof the carriage.

' 18. In a dating machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a set of forming rollers and a set of finishing rollers, pivoted levers for supporting each set on the carriage, and means for applying pressure to the rollers through the levers during travel of the rollers over the mandrel.

19. "In atluting machine, am'andrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a set of forming rollers and a set of finish ing rollers spaced therefrom, pivoted levers for supporting the several rollers of each set, and a rail for each lever over Which it moves during the travel of the carriage.

20. In a fluting machine, a tapered mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinallyrof the mandrel, a set of forming rollers and a set of finishing rollers spaced therefrom, piv oted levers for supporting the several rollers ot each set, and a rail for each lever over which it moves during the travel of the carriage, the rail converging toward the manure I 21.. In a forming machine, a mandrel having a free end over which the Work may be placed, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, forming rollerssupported on the carriage, and means to spread the forming rollers when the carriage is at the free end of themandrel.

:22. In a forming machine. a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a set of forming rollers on the carriage movable over the mandrel and in contact with a portion thereof during the forming operation, and means to space the rollers outwardly of the mandrel after the completion of the forming operation.

23. In a forming machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a set of forming rollers on the carriage movable over the mandrel and in contact with a portion thereof during the forming operation, and means to space the rollers from the mandrel when they are inactive.

24. In a forming machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a set of forming rollers on the carriage movable over the mandrel and in contact with a portion thereof during the forming operation, and means to space the rollers from the mandrel after the completion of the forming operation, said means comprising cam tracks and guiding rollers connected with the forming rollers and movable over the cam tracks.

25. In a forming machine, a mandrel, a carriage movable longitudinally of the mandrel, a set of forming rollers on the carri age movable over the mandrel and in contact with a portion thereof during the forming operation, and ineans to space the rollers from the mandrel when they are inactive, said means comprising camtracks and guiding rollers connected with the forming rollers and movable over the cam tracks. 26. In a machine for fiuting tapered metal columns, a tapering mandrel, a rail'extending longitudinally of the mandrel and converging toward the larger end thereof, a carriage, the mandrel and the carriage bethe other end of the lever and movable over the rail.

27. Ina machine for fluting tapered metal columns, a tapering mandrel, a rail extending longitudinally of the mandrel and converging toward the larger end thereof, a

carriage, the mandrel andthe carriage being movable relatively to one another, a lever pivoted on the carriage, a forming roller on one end of the lever, and a guide roller on the other end of the lever. and movable over the rail, said rail having a portion adapted. to rock the lever and thereby move the forming roller radially outwardly of the mandrel at the end of its operation.

28. In a machine for fiuting' metal columns, a mandrel, a carriage movable relatively to the mandrel, a lever pivoted on the carriage, a guide rail, a forming roller on the lever, and a guide roller also mounted on the lever and movable over the guide rail, the pressure upon the forming roller being applied by the rail and the guide roller through the lever.

JULIUS H. SCHLAFLY. 

